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Song of the Day #1,405: ‘Shabby Doll’ – Elvis Costello

Best Albums of the 80s – #2
Imperial Bedroom – Elvis Costello (1982)

The third Elvis Costello album on this list is the one that blew my mind out in a car, to quote a song from a famous album engineered by Geoff Emerick, who handled production duties on this baroque masterpiece.

Yes, Imperial Bedroom is Elvis Costello’s Sgt. Pepper, bursting with creative energy and utilizing every trick in the studio playbook. It’s an acid trip and a carnival ride and a damn fine collection of songs to boot.

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Song of the Day #1,404: ‘Green Grow the Rushes’ – R.E.M.

Best Albums of the 80s – #3
Fables of the Reconstruction – R.E.M. (1985)

Four artists in my 80s list also showed up on my 90s list — Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, U2 and R.E.M.

R.E.M. is the only one to place in the top five of both lists. It’s easy to forget, given their long slow fade, how dominant this band was for a very long time.

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Song of the Day #1,403: ‘The Queen is Dead’ – The Smiths

Best Albums of the 80s – #4
The Queen is Dead – The Smiths (1986)

I think I just heard Dana’s head explode. Yes, more Smiths!

The Smiths released only four studio albums (among many compilations) and The Queen is Dead is by far the best of them. On this record, they tied everything together perfectly: the pathos, the humor, Johnny Marr’s shimmering guitar and Morrissey’s incomparable vocals.

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Song of the Day #1,402: ‘Runnin’ Down a Dream’ – Tom Petty

Best Albums of the 80s – #5
Full Moon Fever – Tom Petty (1989)

 

The second Tom Petty album on this countdown, Full Moon Fever, is a collection of pop hits that’s as much fun as you can have wearing headphones. I can’t even think about this album without smiling.

Full Moon Fever is packed with wonderful surprises, from the “little freak with the lunch pail purse” who populates ‘Zombie Zoo‘ through the sweet lullaby of ‘Alright For Now‘ to Petty’s acknowledgement that he’s been to Micanopy and his middle name is Earl in ‘A Mind With a Heart of its Own.’

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Song of the Day #1,401: ‘The Beautiful Ones’ – Prince

OK, Seal was one thing, but I find it hard to believe that this is my first time featuring Prince on the blog. But that does indeed seem to be the case.

I’m not a big Prince fan, to be sure, but I respect the man’s talent and have enjoyed his music enough to dedicate a Song of the Day to him. Just didn’t happen. Once again, my thanks go out to Mr. Random iTunes Man.

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